Natural Decorating: Sophisticated Simplicity With Natural Materials

Jacket Description/Back: Natural Decorating is a practical guide, filled with ideas on how to create natural interiors that look contemporary and positive in a modern apartment of elegantly understated in traditional rooms. Publisher Marketing: Authentic, robust, practical, and refreshing, natural decorating is not so much a style as a way of life, a preference for relaxed simplicity after the overdesigned interiors of the eighties. Natural decorating takes the long-term view--incorporating materials that age well and improve with the years, furnishings that bring comfort, simplicity, and practicality to the forefront. The richness of chalky colors and earth tones, the easygoing sympathy of wood, stone, and terra-cotta, the refined simplicity of linen and calico, muslin and raffia--all of these ingredients work together in effortless combinations for a natural sophistication and understated elegance that transcend the fickly whims of fashion."Natural Decorating" is a practical guide to bringing natural style to every feature in an interior. Treatments for walls range from whitewash to organic stains to natural brickwork; floor finishes range from natural fibers to polished stone and limed wood; windows and doors receive curtains made of muslin, ticking, or parachute silk and feature wood blinds or etched glass panels; furnishings are a mix of styles and materials and covered in natural fabrics; display objects bring nature indoors to create simple finishing touches. All the projects provide essential information so that readers can assemble the look they want with ease. Supplementing the projects is a resource section that includes a guide to environmentally friendly products and a directory of suppliers.

Contributor Bio:  Wilhide, Elizabeth Elizabeth Wilhide is the author of more than twenty books on interior design, decoration, and architecture and a coauthor and contributor of many more. Born in the United States, she moved to Britain in 1967, where she lives with her husband. Contributor Bio:  Copestick, Joanna Copestick is a writer and editor specializing in interiors and design. Contributor Bio:  Merrell, James Paula Pryke runs a successful flower business which has a reputation for innovative floral designs. Renowned as an artist who can turn a bunch of flowers into a fashion statement, she is Sir Terence Conran's choice for the floral decoration of his design and restaurant empire. She runs a flower-arranging school in London, and has written numerous best-selling illustrated books on her art. James Merrell is one of the leading book and magazine photographers in Britain, specializing in interiors, still life, food, and flowers. His photographs appear regularly in international publications such as "Elle," "The World of Interiors," "House Beautiful," "House & Garden," and "Maison et Jardin."